Chapter 306: , how does it compare to you? New book (Please subscribe!)

The ski resort owner not only sent various dried game, but also some fresh ones.

Besides that, there was domestic pork and all kinds of trendy vegetables, and the seasonings were all available.

After Old Fan left, Li Heng rolled up his sleeves and began to make dinner.

Yu Shuheng didn't stay idle; she helped him and helped him burn the fire.

Li Heng was a bit surprised: "Why is there still wood burning here?"

His implication was, why would someone like Yu Laoshi look for a house that burns firewood?

Yu Shuheng understood his thoughts: "Burning firewood in winter is warm and has the atmosphere of fireworks; I like this feeling. Isn't your hometown burning firewood?"

Li Heng replied: "My hometown is in the middle of the Xuefeng Mountains, and it is most lacking in wood. All daily life is burning firewood. Only one or two families in the village burn coal. And coal balls aren't burned often; only in winter when spending the night or boiling Chinese medicine are they willing to use a few."

He asked curiously: "Teacher, do you know how to burn firewood?"

Yu Shuheng said: "I've burned it a few times, I know a little."

Hearing this, Li Heng wasn't reassured and went around the stove to check.

As a result, it would have been better not to look. At one look, he was almost dizzy. He subconsciously snatched the iron tongs from her hand, and while retreating the wood from the stove, he complained:

"My God! How can you burn fire like this? How can you stuff the stove full? Did you read books blindly? You have no common sense at all. It's all black-hearted, there's no oxygen to burn."

Yu Shuheng glanced at him and smiled slightly, letting his spit spray onto her face without moving.

After retreating more than half of the wood, Li Heng stopped: "Black-hearted fire has a lot of smoke, a lot of ash, and the firepower is still poor. It's fine to have these four pieces of wood as a base, and later add more or less debris according to my needs."

Yu Shuheng observed his micro-expressions carefully. This little boy's way of spraying people was quite interesting. Since she grew up, she had rarely been lectured by others. He had lectured her twice, and this was the second time.

After arranging for a while, Li Heng returned the iron tongs to her: "Teacher, have you learned?"

"Now you know to call me Teacher; you didn't give me any face just now," Yu Shuheng said.

Li Heng chuckled and pretended not to hear, returning behind the stove to prepare dinner.

After frying two plates of game in a row, Yu Shuheng suddenly asked: "I heard that you have egg dumplings in your hometown during the New Year?"

"Yes, you must have heard it from Wang Laoshi," Li Heng said.

Yu Shuheng nodded: "Do you know how to make them?"

"That's not difficult, it just takes time. How about I make a bowl? They are quite delicious both eaten dry and in hot pot," Li Heng asked.

Yu Shuheng looked expectant.

Just as he was chopping pork mince to prepare to wrap the egg dumplings, Zhou Shihe came out of the bathroom with a pile of washed clothes. After hanging the clothes, she came over and asked: "Li Heng, do you need help?"

Li Heng waved his hand: "Since you've finished showering, stay away from the kitchen. This is a firewood stove, there's a lot of ash. Didn't you see that Yu Laoshi has already grown a beard and become a kitten?"

Zhou Shihe looked toward Yu Laoshi, and the next second she laughed out loud.

Yu Shuheng subconsciously touched her face: "Is there a lot of pot ash on my face?"

Zhou Shihe nodded with a smile.

Seeing Yu Laoshi was about to get up to look in the mirror, Li Heng immediately stopped her: "Eh eh, don't run. If you run, who will burn the fire for me? Wait until the cooking is done to look in the mirror; the more beards, the more beautiful."

Yu Shuheng was pressed down by him, looked at him, and looked at him again. Her small cleanliness obsession was endured hard, and she didn't flare up.

"Small fire, big fire is easy to burn the egg dumplings," he instructed.

Yu Shuheng retreated a piece of wood.

Li Heng said: "Smaller."

Yu Shuheng retreated another piece of wood.

Li Heng looked at the small amount of oil bubbling rapidly in the pot and instructed: "Smaller."

Yu Shuheng retreated the last firewood.

But Li Heng still felt it was big: "Teacher, smaller."

Yu Shuheng raised her head: "There is no firewood in the stove."

Hearing this, Li Heng ran over to poke his head in to check, then picked up a small iron shovel and retreated 2 shovels of red fire charcoal, and joked:

"Teacher, fortunately you were born in a wealthy family. If you were in the countryside, *whoa*! Good guy, this farm work is not learned at all, and it's hard to get married."

Yu Shuheng stared at his profile and didn't make a sound.

Zhou Shihe at the kitchen door heard this, looked at him, then looked at her, lowered her head and smiled faintly, continuing to peel the garlic in her hand.

After retreating the red fire charcoal, Li Heng found that Teacher's face was like a lump of iceberg, cold and trembling, so he immediately threw a step down:

"Of course, a beautiful person like Yu Laoshi couldn't possibly exist in our countryside family.

If you really appeared, *heh*! I guarantee all families would fight to have you, don't need to do anything, eat well and drink well, and be served like an ancestor."

Hearing "beautiful," the names of Chen Zijin and Xiao Han couldn't help but appear in Yu Shuheng's mind.

But strictly speaking, Chen Zijin belongs to Beijing, and Xiao Han's family doesn't have a single rural household, so they can't be considered rural people.

Dinner was quite rich, with beef hot pot, egg dumplings, wild rabbit, and pheasant meat.

Finally, there was a bowl of cabbage hearts.

Li Heng put the last cabbage heart on the table and asked Yu Shuheng: "Teacher, this cabbage heart is very tender, is it from out of town?"

"It should be. In this weather, the vegetables in Harbin are basically frozen."

Yu Shuheng said, and asked the two: "Drink some wine?"

Li Heng asked: "What wine is there?"

Yu Shuheng said: "Only Erguotou."

Li Heng was puzzled: "Teacher loves red wine the most, why only bring Erguotou?"

Yu Shuheng said: "This Erguotou isn't mine, it was sent by someone else. But this weather is suitable for drinking this. Come, take the glasses, one glass each."

Hearing this, Li Heng and Zhou Shihe both handed over their glasses.

Drinking wine, eating hot pot, and biting into a juicy oil tofu, Yu Shuheng said: "Actually, I quite yearn for farm life, it's grounded."

Li Heng said: "That's simple. Persuade your family, then marry a rural boy, and this little life will be beautiful."

Zhou Shihe glanced at him strangely and quietly didn't make a sound.

Yu Shuheng just smiled and didn't answer either.

Li Heng continued: "Actually, yearning is yearning. If you really live in the countryside, firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea are enough to keep you busy for a lifetime. Where is there any poetry and distance? Teacher, I'll send you a copy of *Fortress Besieged* later, you should read it carefully."

Yu Shuheng said: "I've read it."

Li Heng said: "Then you still yearn for it?"

Yu Shuheng said seriously: "Living for a period of time occasionally should be good."

Chatting, this meal took more than an hour. At this time, it was not early, but occasionally a few figures could be seen playing in the white snow.

After showering, Li Heng leaned over to sit next to Zhou Shihe and asked with concern: "You haven't said much today, is there something uncomfortable?"

"No, just a bit tired," Zhou Shihe said.

Li Heng asked: "Have you never exercised like this before?"

Zhou Shihe recalled: "It's not that I haven't, but after high school, I rarely did this."

Li Heng said: "Studying and practicing piano?"

Zhou Shihe nodded: "Also like reading."

Yu Laoshi was showering at this time. Li Heng was afraid of the cold scene, so he found something to talk about: "What's your favorite book?"

Zhou Shihe looked at him and smiled cleverly: "*To Live*."

Li Heng raised his eyelids: "Please speak human language, Zhou Gu Niang."

Zhou Shihe smiled knowingly: "*One Hundred Years of Solitude* and *Moby-Dick*."

Li Heng was very surprised: "It's actually these two world classics. I thought you liked books like *Jane Eyre*."

Zhou Shihe said: "I've read *Jane Eyre* twice, and I quite like it too."

Both love reading, so the two had a common topic again. For the next half hour, they roasted the fire while chatting like old friends. Occasionally their eyes met, and after a few seconds, they moved away without a trace.

During this period, Li Heng also roasted a *ciba* (sticky rice cake), roasting it until it was bulging and golden on both sides, and asked her: "Have you ever eaten charcoal-roasted?"

"No, they were all oil-fried and cooked in sweet wine before," Zhou Shihe said.

Li Heng broke off a side for her: "I think *ciba* should be roasted to eat, it has the most primitive flavor. Try it, if you are used to it, eat it, if it's not delicious, give it back to me."

"Okay."

Zhou Shihe didn't be polite, tore off a piece of the edge and put it in her mouth, then said: "Mm, quite delicious."

Li Heng laughed: "I'm a foodie. Things certified by a foodie, how can the taste be bad?"

Not long after, Yu Laoshi came out.

He asked: "Teacher, why so long? If I hadn't heard you making sounds, I would have knocked on the door several times."

Yu Shuheng sat on the other side: "There was a lot of ash, I took two showers, and washed my clothes twice."

Li Heng looked at her hair: "How many times did you wash your hair?"

Zhou Shihe followed and looked over.

Facing the eyes of the two, Yu Shuheng smiled elegantly: "Also twice."

Li Heng took a new *ciba* and roasted it with iron tongs:

"Hey, I don't know what to say about our Yu Laoshi. Forget it, forget it, I'll do the meals tomorrow by myself. Watching you shower and wash clothes is tiring."

Yu Shuheng smiled and looked out the window: "It's snowing heavily again."

Li Heng had noticed it long ago: "Indeed, I've lived for so long, and it's my first time seeing such heavy snow."

Yu Shuheng joked: "So long? You're only 18."

Li Heng said: "I'm young in face but old in heart."

This night, the three kept roasting the fire and chatting, a rare warm scene, and didn't return to their rooms to rest until after 1 o'clock in the morning.

Sleeping on a *kang* (heated bed) for the first time, it was warm and hot, and he wasn't used to it at all. If his eyelids hadn't been fighting later, he estimated he could have kept his eyes open until dawn.

The next day.

When he woke up, the two women had already washed up, and then looked at him making breakfast with eager eyes.

Li Heng asked Zhou Shihe: "Do you dare to ski today?"

Zhou Shihe said yes.

Yu Shuheng said: "I helped you change to a new coach, also a woman."

Zhou Shihe didn't refuse.

In the morning, the three stayed at the ski resort for more than 2 hours. Li Heng was full of blood and stayed with Yu Laoshi, challenging high-difficulty ski tracks.

Rested for a while at noon, and continued in the afternoon.

However, the two didn't go to wave in the afternoon, but accompanied Zhou Gu Niang, taking her to play slowly, full of joy and laughter, which also had a unique fun.

"Give me your hand, I'll take you to challenge it," Li Heng said to Zhou Shihe.

"Mm." Zhou Shihe gave him her hand, and the two slid while holding hands, while gesturing to Yu Laoshi who was taking pictures.

Li Heng shouted: "Move in unison, in unison, look at me."

"Okay." Zhou Shihe couldn't learn his antics, but in order not to spoil the fun, she still imitated his movements.

Yu Shuheng had the best skiing technique, and chasing the two to take pictures was more than enough.

Later it changed to Li Heng, but he wasn't that powerful. He managed to take pictures, but fell several times in the middle, and even hit an uncle once.

The uncle grabbed his arm and joked: "Why? Little brother, did you take a fancy to my daughter and want to get close in this way? Come, just right, let's have dinner together."

Li Heng waved his hands repeatedly, pointing in the direction of Yu Shuheng and Zhou Shihe: "Uncle, I have an object, look, how beautiful."

The uncle looked over: "Which one is your object? The big one? Or the small one?"

Li Heng blurted out: "Eh eh, Uncle, let go, big or small is fine."

Laughter all around.

Yu Shuheng: "."

Zhou Shihe: "."

After playing for two days in a row, the three were not satisfied, but there was no way. The third rehearsal of the Spring Festival Gala was about to start, so they had to rush back.

"Is everything packed?" Yu Laoshi asked.

Li Heng and Zhou Shihe checked once each, confirming there was no problem.

Yu Laoshi wrapped her scarf, opened the door: "Then let's go."

Li Heng looked at Zhou Shihe: "Girl, you first, I'll bring up the rear."

Zhou Shihe smiled briskly and followed.

Transferring, going to the airport, transferring in Beijing again, the three spent more than 5 hours before arriving home.

Just entering the house, Yu Shuheng said: "Let's go eat first, and rehearse *The Original Landscape of Hometown* in the afternoon."

Rehearsing tomorrow, the three naturally had no opinion.

February 5th, Li Heng, Yu Shuheng, and Zhou Shihe rushed to the CCTV studio hall to participate in the third rehearsal.

After the rehearsal, Li Heng invited Feng Gong, Zhu Shimao, Old Zhao, and others to drink.

February 12th, this was the day of the 4th rehearsal of the Spring Festival Gala.

In the studio hall, he met a classmate, Liu Yue.

But this girl's attention was all focused on Zhou Shihe behind the piano and didn't come over to greet him. This made him breathe a sigh of relief invisibly.

To be honest, he really didn't want to deal with this girl. The other party's brain circuit was always so strange, always able to say unexpected things.

After 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the rehearsal was over. Watching Li Heng, Zhou Shihe, and Yu Shuheng leave, Liu Yue went to the backstage and asked Huang Zhaoyi:

"Aunt, so many rehearsals, you guys haven't spoken yet?"

Huang Zhaoyi gave an "mm" and removed her makeup in front of the mirror.

Liu Yue was anxious for her: "He is like a piece of wood that doesn't move, can't you find an opportunity to be more active?"

Huang Zhaoyi said: "He doesn't lack women around him."

Thinking of Zhou Shihe's amazing beauty and Yu Laoshi's full-score scholarly temperament, Liu Yue wanted to say something, but was speechless in the end.

Seeing her niece didn't provoke her as usual, Huang Zhaoyi said: "A while ago, I saw another woman of his."

Liu Yue asked: "Who? Peking University? Or Renmin University?"

Huang Zhaoyi said: "I didn't investigate where she studies, but the other party was with Li Heng's family, holding hands with his mother, and the relationship was extremely intimate."

Liu Yue opened her mouth wide, quite surprised: "Like this? He really dares to step on two boats?

I was just guessing before, I didn't expect him to have reached this step. One is hugging and holding in Shanghai, and one has already publicly met his family in Beijing. Heh! He is worse than I thought."

Huang Zhaoyi glanced at her niece through the mirror and didn't answer.

Liu Yue asked: "Is the other party beautiful?"

Huang Zhaoyi said: "Beautiful."

Liu Yue asked: "Compared to you, Aunt?"

Huang Zhaoyi recalled and deliberated: "Whether it's beautiful or not, to what extent is it beautiful? Just like Little Wang in your school, there is no clear boundary or high or low. Everyone has their own preferences, and the evaluation criteria are not the same.

Unless it's a woman like Zhou Shihe, only then can a unified aesthetic be achieved."

Liu Yue had been observing Zhou Shihe all day. Even if she didn't admit it on her lips, she was very clear in her heart how lethal that kind of woman was to men, and continued to ask: "How does it compare to you?"

Huang Zhaoyi smiled: "Why must you be so persistent in asking?"

Liu Yue said: "I'm just curious, that guy doesn't even look at you, what kind of sacred person is it that can catch his eye?

Could it be that she must be as beautiful as Xiao Han?

How many can you see in life who are that beautiful? Among peers, I have only seen 3 since I grew up."

"Oh?"

Huang Zhaoyi gave an "oh" and asked: "Where did you see the 3rd one?"

Liu Yue said: "When I went to play at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an during summer vacation, a passerby."

Huang Zhaoyi nodded. Her niece had always been arrogant. If she could say that, it must be very amazing:

"The other party's name is Chen Zijin. How beautiful she is, Aunt can't say specifically, but in terms of external conditions, she should be about the same as Little Wang in your school."

Liu Yue twisted her mouth: "About the same as me? Then she is indeed beautiful enough! But why doesn't Li Heng look at you straight?"

Huang Zhaoyi's hand removing makeup stalled, her face lonely: "Aunt is a bit too old. If I were 10 years younger, I might still have a chance."

Liu Yue disagreed: "You are purely loving him too much, and have an inferiority complex. In my opinion, everyone has weaknesses. He is so lustful, you can completely prescribe the right medicine. Your body is ripe, how many men wouldn't covet it?"

Huang Zhaoyi listened in silence, and after a long time changed the subject: "Why did you come to Beijing?"

Liu Yue said: "I'm going to the United States. Aunt is taking me to visit universities there. If the conditions are mature, I might study abroad early. It just so happens that Mom has something to do in Beijing, so I came to see you and say goodbye."

Huang Zhaoyi asked: "Studying abroad next year?"

Liu Yue said: "I have this idea."

Huang Zhaoyi asked: "Not coming back for the New Year this year?"

"There are still a few days before the New Year, I'll see the situation, but Aunt wants to come back for the New Year," Liu Yue said.

Huang Zhaoyi packed up and stood up: "Let's go, Aunt will take you to eat."

It was a bit of a coincidence. The first time they met Li Heng and the three in a Shandong restaurant before the rehearsal, this time they changed to Quanjude, and Huang Zhaoyi met Li Heng and his party again.

However, today, besides Li Heng and the three, there were also Xu Suyun and Jiao Jiao accompanying them.

He won more than 1,000 playing cards last time and promised to treat them at Quanjude. A person's promise must be fulfilled to have credibility.

Li Heng had a good character in the eyes of others in his previous life, which was keeping his word. So he had many friends.

Meeting at the door, Jiao Jiao saw Huang Zhaoyi first and immediately took out her camera and said happily:

"Look, that's Huang Zhaoyi. Our whole family likes her very much. Suyun, help me take a picture, let me see if I can take a group photo with her?"

People in the circle all knew that Jiao Jiao loved drama. Xu Suyun took the camera and stood up.

Seeing Jiao Jiao coming from Li Heng's side, Huang Zhaoyi naturally didn't refuse, but instead had a very good attitude and cooperated very well to take 3 photos in a row.

Xu Suyun was not to be outdone, also took a group photo, and came back to ask Yu Shuheng:

"Shuheng, I heard from my mom that your grandmother likes this big *qingyi* very much, and goes to the theater to watch performances every month. Is it true?"

Li Heng and Zhou Shihe looked at Yu Laoshi at the same time.

Yu Shuheng said lightly: "That was a few years ago, she is more obsessed with Huangmei opera now."

Li Heng: "."

Zhou Shihe: "."

The two didn't quite believe Yu Laoshi's words, but neither broke it.

Hearing this, Jiao Jiao sighed: "Oh, originally I wanted to get to know the other party and invite Huang Zhaoyi to sit together, but since you said so, then forget it."

There were many people dining today, but fortunately, Yu Laoshi had booked a private room, so they didn't have to squeeze in the lobby outside.

Liu Yue looked at Li Heng, Zhou Shihe, and

Naturally, the three of them—Li Heng and the others—would not take the initiative to go over and greet them; after exchanging a glance, they each went their separate ways.

Jiao Jiao had a clear objective; once she entered the private room, she took the initiative to sit next to Li Heng. She was even more uninhibited when drinking, not only actively urging others to drink, but once, when she accidentally spilled a glass of wine on Li Heng's thigh, the woman hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe it off, and in her haste, her fingertips lightning-fast brushed against a certain spot.

A thought flashed through Jiao Jiao's mind instantly: What a huge lump!

Yu Shuheng saw all of this in her eyes and immediately said to Jiao Jiao, "Li Heng is still a student and cannot drink any more. I will swap seats with you."

Jiao Jiao pouted, not wanting to switch, but seeing Yu Shuheng's gaze growing colder and colder, she eventually switched reluctantly.

Everyone present was not blind; they all knew what had just happened.

Zhou Shihe glanced at Li Heng, then glanced at Jiao Jiao and Yu Laoshi, feeling that this meal was truly complicated.

Xu Suyun pulled Jiao Jiao under the table and then left the private room under the pretext of going to the restroom.

Seeing this, Jiao Jiao followed her out, understanding the implication.

In a corner of the hallway outside, Xu Suyun sternly questioned Jiao Jiao: "Jiao Jiao, have you gone crazy? Don't you know you're married?"

Jiao Jiao didn't take it too seriously: "I didn't intend to cheat."

Xu Suyun asked: "Was that glass of wine really an accident? Or was it intentional?"

Jiao Jiao was on the verge of tears: "What kind of person do you take me for? It really was an accident."

Xu Suyun asked: "Then what about your hand? Why did you reach out so far? Did you think no one saw? That Zhou Gu Niang was right on Li Heng's left, and she saw it clearly."

Jiao Jiao said: "When I was bending over just now, didn't I twist my foot?"

Xu Suyun asked: "Really?"

Jiao Jiao said: "Absolutely true!"

Xu Suyun looked at Jiao Jiao for a long while, then said earnestly: "If others don't know you, don't I know you?

You've been a bit flirtatious since you were a child; whenever you meet a handsome boy, you like to touch his face under the guise of joking. This Li Heng is different, so stop having crooked thoughts!"

Jiao Jiao said: "I really didn't."

Xu Suyun said: "I don't care if you really didn't or if you're pretending; I'm giving you a warning: Li Heng might be the man Shuheng cares about, so you'd better keep that in mind."

"Ah?!!!"

Jiao Jiao exclaimed in astonishment: "Where did you see that?"

Xu Suyun said: "Where did I see it? Does it need to be seen? How many rules has Shuheng broken for this Li Heng? Don't you know?"

Jiao Jiao recalled the look her friend had given her earlier, colder than any time before, and couldn't help but shudder:

"This... isn't this Li Heng her student? How is that possible? Is she planning to swallow the Long Bian all by herself?"

Xu Suyun said: "After spending time together a few times, Shuheng hasn't shown any abnormalities in her behavior, but have you ever seen a couple who can share a room when visiting her home?

Her family is most superstitious about this, saying it ruins the feng shui.

Yet, how many nights have Li Heng and Zhou Shihe stayed in the same room? Not only did Shuheng not blame them, she even specially moved in another rosewood bed."

Jiao Jiao said: "Maybe it's because Zhou Shihe isn't simple?"

Xu Suyun nodded: "I don't deny Zhou Shihe's status. But you know, I am very close with Old Fan, and the day before yesterday he secretly told me that at the ski resort, Shuheng was holding Li Heng's hand to teach him how to skate the whole time, and they didn't even hire an instructor. Which man has ever enjoyed such treatment? Savor that yourself."

Jiao Jiao was a bit dazed, her face full of disbelief, but she said: "That doesn't prove anything, does it? What's wrong with teaching her own student?"

Xu Suyun said: "It might not prove anything, but keeping your distance won't hurt."

Jiao Jiao didn't speak again. After returning to the private room, she became much more disciplined. Although she still interacted with Li Heng, the topics were limited to the Spring Festival Gala three days later.

After the meal, Jiao Jiao returned to her own home.

Xu Suyun didn't leave; she followed the three of them back to Yu Shuheng's house.

Seizing the opportunity to be alone, Yu Shuheng asked: "What did you say to Jiao Jiao?"

Xu Suyun laughed: "She asked me if you were planning to swallow the Long Bian all by yourself? Said you weren't loyal enough!"

Yu Shuheng said: "Stop probing; he has a partner."

Xu Suyun restrained her expression, "I know he has a partner, but you are too good to him, aren't you? You have never been so attentive to a man before."

Yu Shuheng said: "He is my best friend's student, and I promised to take care of him."

Hearing this, Xu Suyun nodded, "His partner must be quite good, right?"

Yu Shuheng gave a lukewarm "hmm."

After 7:00 PM, someone delivered mail—a stack of letters.

Yu Shuheng took them, flipped through the envelopes, and handed four of them to Li Heng.

One of them was handed to Zhou Shihe.

Li Heng glanced at the envelope in Zhou Shihe's hand and discovered it was Mai Sui's handwriting.

He didn't open it in public but took the letters to his room.

The four letters were from: Song Yu, Zijin, Xiao Han, and Mai Sui.

Looking at the envelopes spread out on the table, Li Heng pondered: How could it be such a coincidence? They don't come, and then they all come at once?

Scanning them, he subconsciously opened Song Yu's letter first.

Inside was the usual sheet of paper with three paragraphs of content:

The first paragraph said she had already returned to her hometown at Dongting Lake, and her aunts had all returned with their families, making this year's New Year very lively.

The second paragraph mentioned that her grandmother had asked about him. She had told her family about Li Heng appearing on the Spring Festival Gala, and everyone was looking forward to his performance.

Here, she omitted some things she didn't say.

In fact, it wasn't just her grandmother who asked; several elders in the Song family had specifically asked her: Are you and Li Heng dating?

But Song Yu's answer was: No, we are just good friends.

The other elders looked disappointed upon hearing this; after all, who wouldn't cherish a great writer like Li Heng?

Only Song Shi and Jiang Yue, who were in the know, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If their daughter said they weren't dating, then they definitely weren't.

The couple trusted their daughter!

In the third paragraph of the letter, Song Yu said she had met with Mai Sui and praised Mai Sui for becoming more and more beautiful. She also went with Chen Lijun, and the three women visited Wang Laoshi and their homeroom teacher Wang Qi at the No. 1 High School.

The content was brief. Li Heng read it carefully twice, especially the third paragraph, which he pondered word for word, but he gained nothing.

He didn't know what the process of Song Yu and Mai Sui meeting was like.

However, being able to visit their teacher together, he thought the situation shouldn't be that bad.

After putting Song Yu's letter away, he took Zijin's for the second letter.

There was no reason; he just missed her a bit.

Chen Zijin's letter was thicker, containing four sheets of paper.

Based on the handwriting analysis, two of them were from his second sister, Li Lan.

The second sister mentioned four things:

The first thing: The new housewarming was done, many people came to show their support, and the banquet was held in a grand manner, overshadowing the surrounding ten miles and eight villages.

The second thing: Chen Zijin stayed at the old Li family home for a few nights, specifically persuaded by Tian Run'e. Unexpectedly, Zhong Lan didn't come to cause trouble, which shocked the villagers.

Li Lan's original words in the letter were: Little brother, you have to be careful. Zijin has a very sweet mouth, even more eloquent than me, and she has coaxed Mom and Dad until they don't know which way is up.

If you don't want the household registration book to be the final word, you'd better find an opportunity to bring Song Yu or Xiao Han to meet Mom and let them display their charm.

Seeing this, Li Heng was puzzled. His second sister was blatantly backstabbing Zijin, so why were their letters sent together?

They really are two foxes!

The second thing: The eldest grandfather's branch would return home on the fourth day of the New Year, and they had already received the telegram notification.

In addition, the second grandfather had been babbling nonsense recently, telling everyone he met that he was leaving. But he was full of energy; when the new house was warmed, he drank more than a jin of white liquor, and everyone said he didn't look like someone about to die.

But I feel he might be dying. I had a dream the night before last, dreaming that the second grandfather was wearing white clothes and being put into a coffin. They say dreams are the opposite, but I always feel it's real because the second grandfather's eyes are waxy yellow and cloudy; when alone with him, it's a bit creepy.

Seeing this, Li Heng paused. His second sister was famously daring, daring to walk the night road to Zengjiaao alone, yet she was inexplicably creeped out by the second grandfather's eyes?

He took a sip of water and continued reading.

The fourth thing in Li Lan's letter was: Yesterday, when going to the town to attend the market, Xiao Han and Chen Zijin bumped into each other. Although they didn't meet up across the crowd, the two women looked at each other, and the air was full of gunpowder.

Little brother, second sister has a premonition that World War III is about to break out. If you have a chance, go outside and leave two seeds before coming back. This small town is not safe.

Li Heng was speechless; his second sister was becoming more and more of a rascal!

Then he thought gloomily, were Zijin and Xiao Han ultimately unavoidable?

At this point, he accepted his second sister's speculation; these two women would definitely find an opportunity to meet once.

He hoped it wouldn't be too soon, and he hoped he could rush back in time.

After finishing his second sister's letter, he continued to read Zijin's.

Zijin was the same as usual, sharing the changes at home and her insights in town. Every word revolved around him, and she didn't mention meeting Xiao Han at all.

For some reason?

Seeing this, Li Heng's thoughts flew, and he suddenly wanted to hold Zijin's hand and walk around the entire Shangwan Village. Nothing else, not to show off, he just wanted to do it.

If it comes to selflessness, there might not be anyone in the world more pure toward him than she is.

It's not that Xiao Han and Song Yu's feelings for him aren't pure, but in his previous life, the Chen family suppressed them so much, yet they couldn't separate her determination to follow him. Don't look at how she is always smiling in front of him; in fact, she has cried in hiding many times behind his back.

Li Heng had bumped into it several times.

But Zijin would act shamelessly and refuse to admit she was crying. Every time this happened, she would burst into laughter, burrow into his arms, and use sweet words to distract him.

After finishing this letter, Li Heng leaned back on the sofa and stared blankly for over an hour.

For a moment, he felt regret—regret that he didn't go to Beijing for university and didn't go to accompany her.

But a moment later, thinking of Song Yu and Xiao Han, this trace of regret slowly disappeared.

Going to Beijing wasn't the best choice. With Zijin there, not only would he be unable to deepen his relationship with Song Yu, but he would also delay pursuing Xiao Han.

An hour later, the bedroom door opened a crack, and Zhou Shihe quietly poked her head in. Seeing him staring blankly at the ceiling, she even specifically looked up at the ceiling, but found nothing unusual.

After pondering for a moment, Zhou Shihe walked in and called out softly, "Li Heng."

Li Heng came back to his senses and looked at her.

Their eyes met, and Zhou Shihe said gently, "I simmered a pot of seafood porridge and stir-fried a few dishes. Shall we have some late-night snack together? Yu Laoshi and Sister Xu are both waiting for you."

Li Heng asked subconsciously, "What time is it?"

Zhou Shihe said, "After 9:00. You've been in the room for almost two hours."

Li Heng was stunned. He wanted to get up but felt his thigh was a bit numb, so he sat back down, rubbing his leg while asking, "The letter Mai Sui gave you?"

"Yes," she said.

Li Heng pondered for a long while and asked, "What was the situation when she wrote you the letter?"

Zhou Shihe looked at him strangely, "Did you two have a fight?"

After asking, she felt this question was a waste of breath. With Sui Sui's deep feelings for the person in front of her, it was impossible for her to fight with him.

Li Heng shook his head: "No, I was just asking."

After staring at each other for a while, Zhou Shihe said: "There was no major abnormality. Shall I give you the letter so you can analyze it yourself?"

Li Heng hurriedly waved his hand: "No need, I was just asking casually, don't mind it."

Seeing him like this, Zhou Shihe asked: "Are you worried about her meeting Xiao Han?"

Li Heng shook his head again.

Zhou Shihe thought for a moment and asked: "Did you provoke other girls in Shaoshi?"

Li Heng was startled, not expecting her to be so sharp: "No."

Zhou Shihe smiled knowingly: "I'll go out first; you come and eat some late-night snack."

Li Heng replied: "Okay."

The seafood porridge contained dried scallops, crab, and shrimp, and was very fresh. Yu Shuheng kept praising it: "Shihe, who did you learn this from?"

Zhou Shihe said: "Mom is from Yangcheng; she taught me."

While eating the seafood, the few of them discussed the New Year.

Xu Suyun invited the three of them to her home to spend the New Year together.

But after Li Heng, Yu Shuheng, and Zhou Shihe discussed it, they politely declined. The Spring Festival Gala wouldn't end until after midnight; how could others wait for the three of them for so long?

After the meal, Xu Suyun left; her family members came to pick her up.

After seeing their friend out and closing the gate, Yu Shuheng sat back in her original seat and asked Li Heng: "Are you conceiving a new book?"

Li Heng looked up: "How did Teacher know?"

Yu Shuheng said: "I saw that you brought a lot of books and literature materials this time, all about the late Qing imperial system, the Beiyang government, and the Republican era. Are you planning to write a book in this regard?"

Li Heng nodded: "I have this idea."

Yu Shuheng asked: "When do you plan to start writing?"

Li Heng said: "I might start writing in the next two days. I plan to write 40,000 words first, hoping to publish it in the February issue of 'Harvest' magazine."

Zhou Shihe, who was usually relatively quiet, felt a bit surprised, "After finishing 'Cultural Bitter Journey,' didn't you say you wanted to rest for two to three months? Why so fast?"

Li Heng smacked his lips: "'Cultural Bitter Journey' was finished in mid-December, and now it's mid-February, so isn't that two months?"

Zhou Shihe was stunned, only then realizing that between final exams and Spring Festival Gala rehearsals, time had passed so quickly.

Hearing this, Yu Shuheng restrained her expression and said seriously: "Is there anything that needs to be prepared? Teacher can help you."

Li Heng said: "The initial inspiration for this book came from the literature materials in Aunt Zhao Jing's study. It involves some local cultural history in the Guanzhong region, and then I combined it with some of my own ideas to get the final framework. However, I always feel something is missing."

Yu Shuheng asked: "What's missing?"

Li Heng pondered for a while and said: "I need some county chronicles from the Guanzhong region, the more the better. Hmm, if possible, it would be best to go there and live for a while."

Yu Shuheng indicated: "County chronicles are easy to handle; I can have someone get some for you. As for living there, are you sure?"

Li Heng said: "Sure, it would be best to live there for half a month or a month."

Yu Shuheng asked: "When do you want to leave?"

Li Heng said: "Old Fu gets married on the 10th, and there is a dormitory social activity on the day of the Lantern Festival. After the Lantern Festival, I can leave at any time."

Yu Shuheng was a decisive person. She immediately picked up the receiver and said: "I'll make a phone call first to have someone get some county chronicles for you. Is there a specific place?"

Li Heng said: "The materials in Aunt Zhao Jing's study cover a wide range, but the place where I got my inspiration seems to be called Bai Luyuan. Teacher, please help me search for the county chronicles of this place and the surrounding areas."

Yu Shuheng nodded and dialed the phone.

Zhou Shihe watched this scene quietly. It was her first time witnessing the preparation process of a great writer writing a book, and she felt it was quite novel.

Two phone calls were made in succession—one to call, one to receive. Afterward, Yu Shuheng said to him: "At the earliest tomorrow night, at the latest the day after tomorrow morning, the county chronicles will be delivered to your hands."

Li Heng said sincerely: "Thank you, Teacher."

Yu Shuheng smiled slightly. She had seen the footage of her best friend Runwen accompanying him in writing, and she didn't feel anything at that time, but now participating in it, she felt it was quite meaningful.

She instructed: "Leave the place of residence in Bai Luyuan to me. You just focus on writing, and Teacher will arrange the rest for you. Don't be distracted."

Li Heng replied "Okay" and was very happy, secretly sighing that having a big shot to rely on is really great!

He said: "The place to live shouldn't be too special; it should be grounded."

Yu Shuheng nodded and kept it in mind.

After 11:00 PM, because Yu Laoshi was a bit sleepy, the three people's conversation ended, and they returned to their rooms.

Watching Teacher enter the master bedroom, Li Heng said to Zhou Shihe: "Let's go to the room too."

Zhou Shihe said okay, got up, and followed him to the second bedroom.

Closing the door, he asked: "Comrade Shihe, are you sleepy now?"

Zhou Shihe shook her head and looked at him.

Li Heng pointed to the two letters on the table, "There are still two letters I haven't finished reading."

"Hmm, go ahead."

As she spoke, Zhou Shihe took off her cotton slippers, got into bed, took the copy of "Jane Eyre" from the nightstand, and started flipping through it.

Not long after she opened it, she suddenly revealed half her head from behind the book and asked: "Did Yu Laoshi give you this book?"

Li Heng understood what she meant, because the words "Shen Xin" were written on the title page, and some segments in the book were also marked with insights.

He nodded: "Yes, Teacher gave it to me half a month ago."

Zhou Shihe asked: "Have you flipped through it?"

Li Heng stretched and answered vaguely: "Hmm, Comrade Shihe, your question is not attentive. I've been with you every day for the past half month, sleeping under your nose. Do you think I've flipped through it or not?"

After speaking, he froze, tilted his head, and slowly looked at her.

Their eyes met and then retreated. Zhou Shihe's small mouth pursed slightly, and she retracted her head behind the book, hiding it tightly for a moment.

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Updated first, revised later.

At the end of the last chapter, I saw many recommendations for next books from big shots. Sanyue is very grateful. Many recommendations from big shots are very useful, but I can't write them all at once. After all, the timeline is long, so I'll write them slowly later. Thank you, big shots!

10,200 words have been updated today, and I will continue tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)